Arthur, Chester Alan

1829 - Born in the town of Fairfield in Franklin County, Vermont on the 5th of October.

1848 - Arthur attended public schools and later attended Union College in Schenectady, New York. There he became a member of Psi Upsilon, North America's fifth oldest college fraternity, and graduated.

1851 - Arthur became principal of North Pownal Academy in North Pownal, Vermont.

1854 - He studied law and was admitted to the bar. Arthur commenced practice in New York City, where he supported equal rights for blacks who objected to the racial segregation of city transportation.

1859 - Arthur married Ellen "Nell" Lewis Herndon on the 25th of October.

1860 - Chester Arthur and "Nell" had a son, William Lewis Herndon Arthur, who was named after Ellen's father.

1861 - Arthur served as acting quartermaster general of the state and was widely praised for his service.

1881 - On the 2nd July, President Garfield was shot in the back by Charles J. Guiteau, who shouted: "I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts. Arthur is president now!!" Arthur, who knew nothing of this in advance, was mortified.

- On the 19th of September, Garfield died and Arthur succeeded to the Presidency.

1883 - Congress passed the Pendleton Act, which established a bipartisan Civil Service Commission which stopped big businesses from giving out rebates and pooling with other companies, forbade levying political assessments against officeholders, and provided for a "classified system" that made certain government positions obtainable only through competitive written examinations.

- Congress raised about as many rates as it trimmed, but Arthur signed the Tariff Act of anyway.

1884 - The International Meridian Conference was held in Washington at President Arthur's behest. This established the Greenwich Meridian which is still in use today.

- On the 18th of November, Arthur served as President through March 4, 1885. Upon leaving office, he returned to New York City.

1886 - He died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at 5:10 a.m. on Thursday, on the 18th of November, at the age of 57. Arthur suffered from Bright's disease, and his death was most likely related to a history of hypertension.